[CES 2012] Onstar has just announced that it is opening up its API to third party developers who will be able to imagine and create a new eco-system of apps and services based for the OnStar customer base. OnStar has been monitoring mobile trends very closely, and their conclusion is unambiguous: the company thinks that the number of mobile apps will double by next year, and it is critical to them that they go beyond becoming a successful product to becoming a successful platform. If anything, the RelayRides application, a peer-to-peer car rental service, is a great example of what can be done with the OnStar API.
“With this step we believe we can broaden our portfolio, grow our business and enable our customers to achieve additional functionality from their vehicle using their computer, smartphone, tablet or other devices,” says Linda Marshall, OnStar’s president.
But if you are a developer, don’t expect to access OnStar’s API like you would with Google Maps or Facebook. We are talking about controlling critical functions of a car here, and there won’t be mashups or hackatons – at least for now. Send an email to developers [at] onstar [.com] to apply for access, and OnStar will get back to you. As a user, what kind of applications would you like to see using OnStar?
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